Construction for shelves and/or cabinets



1970 D. R. NELSON CONSTRUCTION FOR SHELVES AND/0R CABINETS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1967 DONALD R. NELSON iNVENTOR ATTORNEYJan. 20, 1970 D. R. NELSON 3,490,393-

CONSTRUCTION FOR SHELVES AND/OR CABINETS Filed May 12, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 8 DONALD R. NELSQN INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent3,490,393 CONSTRUCTION FOR SHELVES AND/ OR CABINETS Donald R. Nelson,Fort Hood, Tex. (3010Savoy Lane, Bowie, Md. 20715) Filed May 12, 1967,Ser. No. 637,981 Int. Cl. A47b 57/00, 9/00, /00

Us. or. s 109 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventionrelates to construction for shelves and/or cabinets and moreparticularly to such constructiofi which permits any desired combinationand spacing of shelves and/ or cabinets.

Prior to the subject invention, in the construction of adjustableshelves and bookcases, it has been the general practice to use at leasttwo or more spaced and vertically extending channels which are securedto the wall or other supporting structure. A plurality of slots or thelike in each channel accommodate one or more brackets which extendperpendicularly outward from the wall and support a shelf placedthereon.

An object of the present invention is the provision of adjustableshelves wherein the means supporting each shelf is hidden from view.

Another object is to provide a construction for shelves and bookcasesadaptable to any desired combination and spacing of sehelves.

A further object of the invention is the provision of shelves, bookcasesand cabinets which may be assembled and disassembled with a minimum ofeffort.

Still another object is to provide such construction which isinexpensive to manufacture, capable of mass production techniques anduniversal in its adaptability.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention asillustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the subjectinvention.

FIG. 2. is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of a bracket used inconnection with the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the drawings.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, vertical sectionview of another bracket used inconnection with the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the drawings.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing a double bracketused in connection with two abutting sections of shelves.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing another doubebracket used in connection with two abutting sections of shelves.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, elevational view ofsupporting means used with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 6 of thedrawings.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, plan view, partly broken away and partly insection, showing another securing means used in connection with theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a bracket constructed inaccordance with the principles of the subject invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of another bracket constructed inaccordance with the principles of the subject invention.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of an eye used in theembodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are vertical sectional views of other embodiments ofbrackets used to support shelves the longitudinal axis of which areninety degrees displaced.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a backing materialwhich is detachably secured to the embodiment of FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1 a section 20 of shelves constructed inaccordance with the principles of the subject invention. Each section 20includes a pair of spaced end members 21-22. For purposes of convenienceonly, end member 21 will hereinafter be described in detail; it isunderstood that end member 22 is similarly constructed.

Member 21 includes spaced uprights 23-24 of a suitable rigid gauge ofwire, rod, tubing or the like. A plurality of transversely andhorizontally extending crossbars 25 of wire rod of desired length areconventionally secured at each end to uprights 23, 24. Preferably theupper and lower crossbars are spaced from the corresponding upper andlower ends of said uprights whereby a sleeve (see FIG. 6) may be passedover vertically aligned uprights to secure in vertically stackedarrangement any desired number of such sections. Each end member 21, 22may consist of any desired number of crossbars with either equal orunequal vertical spacing between adjacent crossbars.

Any desired number of shelves 26 with equal or unequal vertical spacingtherebetween may be utilized in each section 20 with the opposite endsof said shelves detachably secured to corresponding crossbars onopposite end members. More specifically, each shelf 26 is of any desireddimensions and composed of wood, light weight metal, sheet plastic orthe like; in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings atransversely and vertically extending groove 27 which opens downwardlyis provided in the undersurface of each shelf in proximity to the mostlateral ends thereof. In FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, a transverselyextending, angularly inclined groove 28 of narrow width which opens inthe undersurface of each shelf is provided in proximity to each endthereof. Grooves 27, 28 open rearwardly and preferably do not extendinto the front edge of each such shelf.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown a bracket 29used to detachably secure each end of shelf 26 to selected crossbars 25.Bracket 29 terminates upwardly in an inverted, U-shaped portion 30 bentthrough approximately degrees, the legs 31-32 of which are spaced topass laterally of crossbar 25. Leg 31 extends outwardly of bar 25 andterminates therebelow while leg 32 extends downwardly of the lower edgeof leg 31 and is turned perpendicularly inward to form base 33. In use,the most lateral ends of said shelves abut leg 32 while base 33 supportsthe lower, outer end of each shelf. Upwardly extending portion 34 ofsuch bracket is preferably parallel to leg 32 while end portion 35 isbent backward along a plane parallel to the plane of base 33. For designconsideration only, the upper surface of shelf 26 is approximately alongthe same horizontal plane as the upper surface of portion 30 of saidbracket.

A transversely extending member 36 composed of light weight metal, nylonor the like is secured in groove 27 as by means of screws, an adhesiveor in a friction fit. A longitudinally extending, inverted L-shapedchannel 37 in member 36 opens downwardly to accommodate portions 34, 35of bracket 29. In use, two or more brackets 29 are inserted into member36 on each end of shelf 26 and preferably positioned in proximity to thefront and rear edges of said shelf. The U-shaped portion 30 of eachbracket is then passed over selected, corresponding crossbars 25 onopposite end members 21, 22 securing the shelf in position.

Groove 28, heretofore mentioned, preferably extends angularly upward andoutward. Bracket 38 of FIG. 3 is substantially similar to bracket 29 ofFIG. 2; terminal portion 39 of bracket 38 extends upward and outward atan angle corresponding to that of groove 28. It is to be understood thatgroove 28 may be at any selected angle ranging from the vertical tosixty degrees below the vertical; in each case, terminal portion 39 isbent to insert into the said groove.

Any desired number of sections of shelves may be placed side by side toform shelving or a bookcase of any desired length. The shelves of eachouter section of said plurality of sections are secured to correspondingcrossbars as by means of brackets 29, 38. There is shown in FIGS. 4 andof the drawings double brackets 40-41 which are used in connection witha plurality of sections wherein the ends of shelves in adjacent sectionsabut. It is obvious that double brackets 40, 41 are bilaterallysymmetrical about the center line through crossbar 25, those members onone side of said center line having heretofore been described in detailin connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, respectively. In use,double brackets 40, 41 are slidably inserted into member 36 or intogroove 28, respectively, in abutting ends of shelves 26; the joinedshelves may then be passed through either end member and secured tocorresponding crossbars. Alternatively, the user may raise the rear edgeof abutting shelves whereby the brackets 40, 41 may be inserted in themanner heretofore described, after which said shelves may be loweredinto position and secured to corresponding crossbars.

There is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings another embodirnent of theinvention consisting of a cabinet section 42 to which section 20 ofshelving is detachably secured. In general, section 42 consists of endmembers 43-44. For purposes of convenience only, end member 43 will bedescribed in detail; it is understood that end member 44 is similarlyconstructed. Member 43 includes an upright 45 and inverted L-shapedmember consisting of upright 46 and perpendicularly extending crosspiece 47; upright 45 is of greater length than upright '46 and the endof cross piece 47 is butt welded or otherwise secured thereto with rodsegment 48 extending upwardly. Segment 49 is of similar cross sectionalconfiguration as segment 48 and is spaced therefrom a distancecorresponding to the width of end members 21, 22; one end of segment 49is conventionally secured to cross piece 47. A plurality of horizontallyextending crossbars 50 are conventionally secured at each end touprights 45, 46; the vertical spacing between adjacent crossbars may beequal or uneqfual.

Cabinet 42 is of conventional construction and consists of top, bottom,sides, back and hinged doors 5157, respectively, or any combination ofsuch parts. As heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 2-5 of thedrawings, either member 36 or groove 28 is provided in the bottom 52 ofsuch cabinet to accommodate brackets 29, 3-8. Sleeve 58, composed ofplastic or the like, is placed over the upper end of rods 48, 49 of eachend member 43, 44 and the lower end of uprights 21, 22 respectively.

There is shown in FIGS. 7-8 of the drawings means to provide stabilityand support for a section 20 of shelves and/or cabinet section 42. Crossmember 59 of suitable gauge rod or the like consists of mirror imagesections 60-61 with vertically extending base 62 of each section securedto the corresponding member as by welding or the like. For purposes ofconvenience, section 60 will be described; as heretofore mentioned,section 61 is a mirror image thereto. Leg 63 of section 60 extendsangularly upward and terminates in fastening means 64 which isdetachably secured to upright 23 and to a selected crossrod 25. Morespecifically, leg 63 passes over crossrod 25, is bent downward andpartially around the said crossrod and thence horizontally rearwardapproximately ninety degrees circu-mferentially around upright 23. Inlike manner, leg 65 of section 60 extends angularly downward andterminates in fastening means 66 which is detachably secured to upright23 and to a selected crossrod spaced vertically below the crossrodaccommodating fastening means 64. As best seen in FIG. 8, leg 65 passesbelow crossrod 25, is bent upwardly and partially around crossrod 25 andthence horizontally rearward approximately ninety degreescircumferentially around upright 23. Prior to attaching shelves 26 inthe manner heretofore described, fastening means 64, 66 are firstsecured to the rear upright on one end member and thereafter secured tothe rear upright on the opposite end member.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a supporting device 67 composedof suitable gauge rod or the like, said device includes an elongatedbase 68 which terminates at one end in fastening means 69 similar inconstruction to fastening means 64, 66 heretofore described; theopposite end of base 68 is bent perpendicularly inward to form arm 70.Fastening means 69 is first secured to a selected crossrod 25 andupright 23 after which arm 70 is inserted into a horizontally extendingsleeve 71 composed of plastic or the like which is conventionallysecured in the rear edge of shelf 26 in proximity to each end thereof.

There is shown in FIGS. 10-11 of the drawings wall brackets 7273 whichare secured as by means of screws 74 or the like to a supportingstrutcure 75. In the embodiment of FIG. 10*, bracket 72 is of righttriangular outline and constructed of suitable gauge rod or the like;such bracket terminates upwardly in eye 76 and further includesvertically extending leg 77, base 78 which is perpendicular thereto withleg 79 extending angularly upward to connect to eye 76. As best seen inFIG. 12, the upper portion of eye 76 is turned inwardly and lies flatagainst the supporting structure while the lower portion of said eye isbent outwardly and downwardly to overlie the upper portion of leg 77 andjoins the upper end of leg 79 which is vertically aligned with leg 77.

Bracket 73 is of a suitable gauge rod or the like and terminatesupwardly in eye 76 of the type heretofore described. Verticallyextending leg 80 terminates downwardly in base 81 which extendsperpendicularly outward; leg 82 is vertically aligned with leg 80- andas best seen in FIG. 11 is bent inwardly at an angle of approximatelyeighty degrees with respect to the horizontal; leg 83 extends upwardlyat an angle of approximately forty-five degrees and connects to eye 76.A plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending crossbars 84are secured at each end to legs 80 and 82, respectively. Shelves 26 maybe secured to base 78 of FIG. 10 or to base 81 or crossbars 84 of FIG.11 as by means of brackets 29, 38 in the manner heretofore described.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-14 of the drawings there are shown brackets85-86 for additionally supporting shelves 25 the longitudinal axes ofwhich are ninety degrees displaced and wherein one end of one shelf isunsupported. It is obvious that the lower portions of such brackets aresimilar in construction to brackets 29', 38 of FIGS. 2-3 of the drawingsand are secured to shelves 26 in the manner heretofore described.Vertically extending portion 87 of bracket 85 passes betweenend 88 of afirst shelf and the front edge 89 of an abutting second shelf thelongitudinal axis of which is displaced ninety degrees relative to saidfirst shelf; portion 87 terminates upwardly in a horizontally andoutwardly extending portion 90 which bears against the upper surface ofsaid second shelf to support the first shelf. In like manner, the lowerportion of bracket 86 is similar to bracket 38 heretofore described;bracket 86 includes a vertically extending portion 91 which passesbetween the end of a first shelf and front edge of an abutting secondshelf with portion 92 bent perpendici ilarly outward, said portion 92bears against the upper surface of said second shelf to support saidfirst shelf.

In FIG. of the drawings there is shown a vertically extending backingmaterial 93 which isdetachably secured to a selected shelf 26 forwardlyof cross member 59 not only to obscure the same but also to form a backfor section More specifically, a plurality of spaced, screw hooks 94-insert into the rear edge of aselected shelf to support and secure thelower edge of backing material 93.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurelrelates to only preferred embodiments of the invention "and that it isintended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the,invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention."

What is claimed is:

1. In furniture construction,

spaced first and second end members,

said first and second end members each consisting of first and seconduprights with a plurality of horizontally extending and verticallyspaced crossbars secured thereto,

at least one horizontal member having first and second ends,

first and second transversely extending grooves in the undersurface ofsaid horizontal member in proximity to the" respective first and secondends thereof, said grooves extending upwardly at an angle ranging fromthirty degrees above the horizontal to the vertical,

at least two spaced brackets detachably secured to a single selectedcrossbar on each of said first and second end members,

said brackets partially inserted into said grooves in said lhorizontalmember inwardly of said first and second uprights,

each of said brackets comprising an inverted U-shaped portion havingfirst and second legs,

said first leg passing to one side of a selected crossbar and saidsecond leg passing to the opposite side of said selected crossbar,

said second leg turned perpendicular and terminating in an upwardlyextending portion adapted to insert into said grooves in said horizontalmember, and

support means detachably secured to said first uprights of said firstand second members.

2. In furniture construction,

at least first and second parallel end members,

said first and second end members each consisting of first and secondspaced uprights with a plurality of horizontally extending andvertically spaced crossbars secured thereto,

at least one elongate horizontal member terminating laterally in firstand second ends,

first and second transversely extending grooves in the undersurface inproximity to said first and second ends of said horizontal member,

at least two spaced brackets detachably secured to a single selectedcrossbar,

first and second members secured in said first and second transverselyextending grooves,

said members including a downwardly opening, in-

verted L-shaped channel,

said brackets shaped to conform to and insert into the said channels,and

support means detachably secured to said first uprights of said firstand second members.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said brackets consist of aninverted U-shaped portion including first and second legs, said firstleg passing to one side of a selected crossbar and said second legpassing to the opposite side of said selected crossbar, said second legturned perpendicular and terminating in an upwardly extending portionadapted to insert into said channels in said first and second members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,816 3/ 1904 Schriefer 108-1091,855,242 4/1932 Jarvis 108-409 FOREIGN PATENTS Ad. 40,278 2/ 1932France.

155,269 7/ 1956 Sweden. 177,994 1/ 1962 Sweden.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

